Renaissance to Mannerism
Renaissance vs Mannerism
Renaissance (1400-1520)
rinascita = Rebirth
Style order: symmetry, proportion, balance
Normal, supernormal, ideal;
Appeal to the universal
Historical events Exploration of new continents
and scientific research
1517- Reformation replaced the study of
God with the study of human being
Human Representation Ideal Beauty
Mannerism (1520-1600)
manierismo, maniera = manner, style
Abnormal or abnormal;
Exploits strangeness of subject,
uncontrolled emotion,
Disturbed balance and proportion
Zigzag or spiral movement--restlessness
Rome was sacked by the Germans and
Spaniards
The church lost its authority during the
Reformation
Distorted bodies- figures in twisted in
unnecessary contrapposto (counterpoise).
Elongated or grossly muscular forms
Renaissance vs Mannerism

Comparing Paintings
Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist

- Renaissance painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

• The figures are all shown with absolutely perfect proportions,

reflecting a Renaissance obsession with Classical ideas about beauty
from symmetry

• Mary and St. Anne are idealized, but obviously very realistic, shown
with incredible emotion and natural poses

• And as for the composition itself, Leonardo painted this to reflect the
shape of a triangle. All of the figures work together to create kind of a
pyramid

• This creates a grounded, calm, rational sense that draws the viewer's
eyes into the piece.
Madonna with the Long Neck

- Mannerism painting by Parmigianino

• It is a masterpiece of skill, showing a beautiful scene of intimate emotion

between mother and child, but quite different from Leonardo's.

• Mary with long neck, is no longer shown in perfect classical proportions.

• Mannerist painters stressed the elegance and grace of subjects and

compositions over a purely realistic appearance.

• The composition of this piece is also different. Whereas Leonardo's was

grounded and centered, Parmigianino's is off-center, drawing the eye
upward in an almost spiraling motion.

• The dead center of the painting is the relatively flat space of Mary's
stomach, not Christ.

• Mannerists were rebels.

Renaissance vs Mannerism

Comparing Architecture and Sculpture

Pietà

- Renaissance Sculpture by Michelangelo

• Grounded, calm, rational, and carved with the rare skill that only
Michelangelo could master.

• Michelangelo's sculpture was meant to be appreciated from one single

viewpoint
Abduction of a Sabine Woman

- Mannerism sculpture by Giovanni da Bologna

• Prominent is the spiraling, upwards motion

• To understand Giovanni's sculpture, you have to walk all the way around
it, observing it from multiple viewpoints

• Mannerism rejected the formality of the Renaissance for spiraling and

often whimsical forms.